The time has come, the Walrus said, to talk of many things.

[magicalarchaeologist]

Who: Istredd and the Thorne Summoned
What: Istredd called everyone to a meeting
Where: Istredd's Horizon
When: Friday, January 13th, midnight (technically therefore the 14th too)
Warnings: Discussion of Thorne's set up so paranoia, discussion of war, possibly some treason, who knows, it'll be fun.

HORIZON AND SET UP

The Tower was described by Istredd in detail so people would know where to go, and once they arrive the door automatically opens. After the meeting starts and he feels most of the Thorne Summoned are there, it will be locked to any outsiders. Istredd has tight control of his domain so it will also be shielded magically and sound-proofed so they cannot be eavesdropped upon. They get enough of that at Thorne! His domain is unique for being essentially a tower of books. Shelves upon shelves of books and multiple floors. The only other detail before the talk starts is that there are five ravens who will be curiously watching everyone from a perch nearby.

The main floor has been turned into a meeting hall of a sort, although mostly in terms of having a large space full of chairs and a long table if people wish to sit there. A key note about Istredd's domain is that people can easily morph chairs or create them in whatever form they'd want, so if you want them to have their childhood chair, go ahead. If they want a gaming chair, it'll show up automatically for them. His space is very intuitive. People can choose to speak either from the back of the room, as Istredd will do, or from where they sit/stand.

Attendants may notice that Kyle, Lucifer, and Kell come and go a few times, their intention to be visible to anyone watching so it doesn't seem obvious that there is anything suspicious going on.

After the initial formal talk and information gathering, people should feel free to explore the tower if they want. If you're a bookworm, go nuts. People will find that if they open a book it will appear to be empty at first, but if they think about their favorite book, the pages will fill in. It is entirely based on their recollection of the book so may not be entirely complete, but if their subconscious mind has memorized much of it, they will see what they need to in there. They may also find that was they move through the floors, a 'reading nook' may appear in the corner that will instinctively know what they would feel comfortable sitting to read with. If they would like to stay here, they can.

Istredd's domain is open when he is not there, so people can come back if they want later on.

ISTREDD'S SPEECH

Istredd will wait until it appears everyone has arrived or most people have and he will clear his throat to get their attention if they are already chatting with other people. He appears as he often does in Thorne, with very plain clothes in a dark shade of blue, serious and calm. None of his actual nerves show, although on the inside he is anxious about so much attention being on him. Even if he asked for it. He stands straight-backed, hands clasped behind his back. Istredd speaks in a very clear and calm way.

"Please sit or stand as you feel comfortable. If you want, you can create any chair you wish to sit in. I will say my piece here, but I would appreciate it if afterward others are willing to share their own information and thoughts. I know some of us are information gatherers and may know the history of Thorne Summoned, so whatever I don't cover, it would be helpful to fill in any blanks.

Whether you are new or have been here for some time, the facts are very clear: we are trapped in Thorne Castle. The other factions have a great deal more freedom. They can create their own businesses, live in their own housing, wander the streets or go on trips, and while they do have their own struggles, few are constantly afraid that a single wrong word spoken out loud will get them interrogated. Because of that, we are in a much more precarious situation.

We have to assume that Thorne is always listening, the castle has ears and magic everywhere, and they have already questioned anyone for showing the slightest bit of disagreement with the royalty.

Here is a quick current history of Thorne and the Summoned that I gathered, although people here who know more or who were there should add, as this is a summary. I assume there are some new people who have no idea that this happened. Thorne first Summoned people a year and a half ago, and when they did, they threw many of the Summoned into prison immediately. They were not told exactly why. They planned on executing one of the Summoned in a public place, and during that event, two unknown people appeared and froze all the Thorne mages. They gave the Summoned the option to flee to Free Cities and Solvunn. This was the first time any Summoned went to those locations, and the majority of them did leave. Eventually, as we know, Free Cities and Solvunn used the spell for themselves.

It should be noted that thousands of years ago, Summoning in Thorne happened, but it went poorly and the High Mage at the time was exiled. He ended up founding Solvunn. We know nothing else about that, but it is interesting that after all this time, they began again.

While Thorne has not thrown any new people into the dungeon, as far as we know, there are those of you who have been questioned recently about the situation with Yennefer in Nocwich or loyalty toward the royalty here. Suffice to say, we're not that far away from the potential of some of us going back into prison. I was made aware by Kyle that early on, a Summoned was taken and experimented on. Their attempt was to see if they could take a Summoned's connection to the Singularity and put it onto one of their own. It didn't succeed, so as far as we know it hasn't happened again, but that is not to say it won't. It's clear they are not above doing this.

I am sorry that this is all very alarming, and some of you may not have been aware of how tense of a situation we are in right now. But it's important that everyone is informed so you are not going into this blind. My reason for declaring this meeting is for people to share what they know, because knowledge is power, and being ignorant here is dangerous. I also would like to take this opportunity to encourage us to do the one thing we can to make this situation better: unify.

The more they can isolate us from one another, the weaker we are. If we are ignorant, ill-prepared, and disconnected, they can take advantage of us. And we have the power to change that for ourselves.

I'm teaching magic classes to beginners and offered the same to the Summoned. Stephen and Yennefer are also magic users who teach. My roommate Lucifer has volunteered to teach others basic combat skills, and I believe there are others in this group who have those abilities. Obviously, as I've said, it is dangerous to make us stand out too much, so I recommend offering it to anyone and the Summoned signing up, or to come into the Horizon and train here. If you have other abilities you can share with people, please consider offering them to the group. If everyone can feel confident in their ability to use magic and defend themselves, we will be better for it.

It's possible that by doing this I've opened us up to danger. It is possible someone here is willing to sell us out to Thorne, and if that happens, I'm the ringleader, so I hope the danger will fall on me. But please understand that they do not have any loyalty to us. We are all one bad day away from the queen deciding to imprison us again. As you've seen from the attack on Libertas, she can't be trusted. We can only count on ourselves and one another from now on.

I will open the floor up now to anyone who wishes to speak. You can share your information, experience, or thoughts and concerns. If you're willing to train others in your skills, please say so. There is a big book open on the table where you can write your information down. Everyone is welcome to stay here as long as they like if you'd like to take the opportunity to speak to anyone here without fear of being overheard in Thorne.

Thank you for coming. I apologize if this was long and boring. We scholars have a tendency to always sound like we're lecturing."

OOC NOTES

Hey everyone, it's Dee! I am so sorry for the tl;dr. I have the headers below: Speeches (information sharing/tl;dr like mine), Offers to Train (in whatever), and then everything else can be a Mingle.

If you want your character to speak/offer information but don't want follow-up questions, you can put 'OTA' or 'no follow-up' to indicate what your preference is here. If you put OTA people can reply with a sort of Q&A option, but the no follow-up idea is so that people can share information but not need to commit to that unless they feel like it.

The same goes for Offers to Train, you can make a 'OTA' to people who can reply to your character asking more or setting that up, or simply make it a statement. I want everyone to feel like they can play as much as they want here or just share.

And from there, mingle to your heart's content! Your characters can talk afterward, before, go explore the library, whatever you want, I support it. You can plan closed or open starters, follow your heart.

Jay reminded me that it may be relevant to read the game history page. Your character can have asked around for the pre-game history portion and know details about it.

If nothing else, I want people to take from this mingle that their character can hear any of this information and have it from now on for your RP purposes, and also have the opportunity to get them to learn skills from other Summoned/build CR that way. Do as much or as little as you want! If you have any comments/concerns, please message me on plurk.

Comments

SKILL TRAINING

[magicalarchaeologist]

[Please respond here if your character would offer to train others and in what they would be offering. Also feel free to note in your subject if you'd be fine with a little back and forth talk or not.]

No follow-up, will have TL below.

[magicalarchaeologist]

Istredd has really said enough for a lifetime tonight but he has a giant book open and gestures for people to sign their names either as offers to train or sign-ups for training.

"I am available for beginner's magical training. This can be Abraxan or anything you may be struggling with from home."

feel free to hit him up, I'm just bullet points for Sanity

[thedevilwhorose]

Lucifer is offering combat training. It will ideally be on the Castle grounds for guards and Summoned both, but he has a rocky reputation at the moment so at the very least it'll definitely be on the Horizon.

Styles

◎ One-handed short blades. (Adaptable to train for long blades).

◎ Hand-to-hand.

◎ Sword and small shields; he's not particularly accustomed to larger shields.

can't resist the hilarity of this >.>

[widows_kiss]

"So. You're teaching combat, huh?"

She'd waited until the meeting was over to approach him, having seen him slip out and then back in at some point during all the discussions. A faint smile plays around her lips now, though, as she wanders up to where he's perched, arms crossed over her chest. There's mischief in her gaze as she gives him a once-over.

"Consider me intrigued."

:)

[thedevilwhorose]

"I may not look it, but I was a soldier once upon a time, in my prime," he tells her. Depending how much weight she's decided to put on his identity, she might even believe that he was a soldier for God.

open to short exchanges!

[funbreaker]

When various Summoned take turns explaining the skills that they can offer training in, Thancred waits for a good moment and then rises from his seat.

"I can offer training in how to dual wield knives, or a sword of similar size and weight to this if that's preferable." He pulls his gunblade from his back for a moment to show it off before returning it there. "Even if you don't need training, I'm always looking for sparring partners, preferably in the waking world rather than the Horizon."

It just doesn't feel the same to practice here. He's tried. Maybe it would be different if it were magick, but that's neither here nor there. He'll be around after things wind down to discuss in more detail, for anyone interested.

ota!

[politicians]

[ elrond offers a short bow, his ears twitching slightly as he straightens. his smile is, always, warm as summer. ]

Greetings. I am a new Summoned. Elrond of Lindon. I am a healer among my people, proficient in herbs and lorework. I would be honoured to take on some students. I cannot put the skill of the Elvish in your hands, but it will prove beneficial for the hard and aching hurts that are difficult to quell.

[ordinar]

[When the meeting loosens into more of a mingle, Wilhelm finds Elrond, naturally gravitating toward the more familiar faces in the small crowd. His hands are in his pockets.]

So what's lorework anyway?

[politicians]

[ elrond greets him with a faint smile. ]

Knowledge. Part of it is the skill, the other is the history behind the roots and leaves.

[londonbound]

I have been studying healing magics with the mages at the castle infirmary for about half a year now. I'm very interested to speak with you and compare notes.

Perhaps there is something I can pass along from my studies, and it will do me well to understand how other worlds approach healing. It is not a skill common in my own world.

Indeed, I wasn't at all suited for it there, but here -- I've managed, and I wish to keep learning, so that I may help more people when the need arises.

[politicians]

That is an admirable goal. I would be honoured to pass on what I know. I'm not sure how such skills would be inherited — I have only ever worked with Elves, but no doubt we shall find a way.

open to short exchanges

[widows_kiss]

Natasha hadn't really intended to input much here, still being as new as she is, but with the more serious information that's been revealed today... Well, they might soon need all the help they can get. Which is why, after a few others offer their talents, she, too, stands up to pipe in, arms crossed casually over her chest.

"I don't know a lot of you yet, since I'm still relatively new here, but I've got extensive experience with a multitude of weapons" (even if a good chunk of them don't exist here - she can adapt) "whether it's blades or ranged, and multiple fighting styles, from defensive maneuvers to boxing, fighting hand-to-hand, you name it. It doesn't matter if you've never learned any of this before, if you're interested in trying, I can try and help you find a style that fits your preference, or at least have a basic understanding of what to do and what not to do."

"On top of that," she pauses to give some of those she knows to be more adept in magic than she is, "I've been trying to adjust some of those styles to come up with better ways of countering and evading offensive magics, since it's likely that could be a possibility. Anyone willing to fling some spells at me, I'd be grateful for the assistance. Thanks."

[magicalarchaeologist]

He smiles faintly at her.

"It seems that turnabout is fair play. I teach you magic and can fling the spells at you, and I would appreciate help on combat. Lucifer is a good teacher but probably learning different styles will be helpful."

[widows_kiss]

Istredd is learning combat from the devil himself. Something about that has her chuckling softly to herself as she shakes her head, but offers him a warm smile and a slight incline of her head in acknowledgement.

"I'd be grateful for any assistance and of course, I'd be happy to help you learn in turn. Adding a broader scope of knowledge never hurts."

[funbreaker]

While Thancred isn't in need of any training himself, he can't help but focus in on what Natasha has to say as she lists off her so-called resume, which is nothing to sneeze at. When so many Summoned here are more focused on magicks, it's a breath of fresh air to come across someone who's speaking his language. In more ways than one, as her ability to subtly gather information has also caught his eye.

"I don't need to be taught and I can't fling any spells at you, but would you be interested in a sparring partner? I have Rhy, but I can only best him so many times in one week."

He winks to indicate that he's joking (whether or not Rhy is here or in earshot).

[widows_kiss]

His comment gets a smirk from her - as does the playful wink - but she casts him an innocently amused glance. "Then it would be my pleasure to make sure your ego remains a reasonable size."

[ziryla]

It is after the speeches and offers settle that Rhaenyra gravitates towards the other woman.

In truth, she had never seriously considered learning the artistry of weapons-fighting; there was a certain scrappiness to her, once of twice, but it didn't come with skill. And, not to mention, she was pretty sure if she had asked her father to pick up the sword like some second-coming of Visenya while already being the political headache she had been in her youth, he would have had a fit enough to send him to an earlier death.

But here and now — here was this brilliant, curious woman from a different world offering her skill so freely and Rhaenyra would be a fool to not try and take it.

"Natasha," her smile is small, but genuine, if a bit sheepish. "I — would like to try and learn, if you would overlook my lacking knowledge."

[widows_kiss]

Natasha had glanced up with a smile when she spotted Rhaenyra making her way towards her. Leaning a hip against the edge of the table, she crosses her arms over her chest, her posture easy and relaxed, as if that alone might help put the other woman more at ease.

"Considering we're all a little out of our element here, you're not the only one. Don't worry, even the most accomplished fighters had to start at the beginning. It's nothing to be held against you - especially since you're willing to try. I'd be happy to teach you. Are you interested in mostly defensive techniques, or were you hoping for something else?"

[blackeyedprince]

One redhead to another. She caught his attention back at Rhy's mingle. He didn't approach her then, so takes his chance now. It's easier to talk freely in the Horizon, where there's less danger that what's being said finds its way to people who shouldn't hear it. Like the Queen or her lackeys.

"If you are looking for a sparring partner, I'll happily provide. For both magical and non-magical combat."

open to short exchanges!

[northerndragon]

Jon has been mostly quiet through the meeting, except when he wasn't, though the displeased look on his face likely spoke volumes.

When he does say something, it's in a low, ringing voice.

"What I am when I am not here -- well, that's no matter. But I have trained with weapons since I could walk, and I led a military order for a time, trained others, have directed the training of armies.

"These days I'm employed in Thorne as a master-at-arms. I teach the sword, for the most part, but I have taught spears, shields, the bow. Hunting and fishing, too, if you need to learn. It would be of use if we find ourselves free out in the land one day. If a few of us can hunt, then none need starve. And there is little and less cause for anyone in Thorne to think that we do these things for a reason. They can be done without much suspicion."

open to short exchanges

[sorser]

[His name came up in the speech itself, but best to reiterate his willingness to teach those who are interested. Stephen clears his throat when he finds an opportunity to speak up.]

I have time [SOMEHOW] to tutor those interested in learning the magic of this world. I was a sorcerer back home, so some skills when it comes to study and application are relatively universal; that said, my focus has been on healing magic, here, but I'm willing to teach wherever someone else's interests lie.

Always willing to learn and improve, and doing so with someone else always makes the journey less... tedious.

[politicians]

[ hmm. ]

I would be interested, if you were obliged. I have some skill in healing, but there is always room for growth.

[itchtokill]

Count me in for those lessons, mate. [Kol pipes up, lifting a hand to draw his eye easier to where the voice had come from.]

Back and Forth Welcome

[a_better_man]

Mat can offer lessons in archery - long bow and knife throwing. Though he will stress he's only used the former for hunting game and the latter for entertainment purposes. He can also offer lessons in bow making.

ota~

[itchtokill]

Kol can offer help in swordsmanship and archery and will point out he's available for magic discussion if anyone might be interested in a little theoretical chats at all.